Microwave oven having a coffee maker

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a microwave oven having a coffee maker with a structure wherein a user can easily clean a filter basket ( 420 ), the microwave oven includes a first housing ( 100 ) having a cooking chamber ( 110 ) being opened or closed by a door ( 130 ) and a component chamber ( 120 ) having components for irradiating microwave into the cooking chamber ( 110 ), a second housing ( 200 ) provided in the first housing ( 100 ) and having an open side, a water reservoir ( 300 ) provided in the second housing ( 200 ), a filter basket assembly ( 400 ) provided to be withdrawn from or inserted into the second housing ( 200 ) and separated from the water reservoir ( 300 ), a water supplying tube supplying water in the water reservoir ( 300 ) to the filter basket assembly ( 400 ), a heater for heating water flowing in the water supplying tube and a container ( 700 ) provided to be withdrawn from or inserted into the second housing ( 200 ) for receiving coffee dropped from the filter basket assembly ( 400 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and moreparticularly, to a microwave oven having a coffee maker.

BACKGROUND ART

A microwave oven is an apparatus for thawing or heating food by usingmicrowaves. A general structure of the microwave oven is illustrated inFIG. 1. Hereinafter, the microwave will be described in more detailreferring to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional microwave oven includes a cookingchamber 20, component chamber 30, electric components provided in thecomponent chamber, and a housing 10.

The cooking chamber 20 is a cavity for accommodating food therein, andhaving an opened front for inserting or withdrawing the food. In thecooking chamber 20, a tray 15 is rotatably provided, and a door 11 isprovided for opening and closing the cooking chamber 20 in front of thecooking chamber 20.

The component chamber 30 is provided adjacent to the cooking chamber 20,and electric components such as a magnetron 31 and a transformer 32 areprovided thereto for irradiating the microwaves into the cooking chamber20. At the component chamber 30, a fan 33 is provided in the cookingchamber 20 for cooling the electric components or for forming aircirculation currents in the cooking chamber 20.

Meanwhile, the housing 10 is provided to cover the cooking chamber 20and an outside of the component chamber 30 as illustrated in FIG. 1.When the microwave oven is operated after food is put on the tray 15,the tray 15 is rotated. Simultaneously, the microwaves generated in themagnetron 31 are irradiated into the cooking chamber 20.

The microwave thaws or heats the food on the tray 15 by vibrating watermolecule in the food. In this case, the tray 15 is rotated, and thus thefood is thoroughly and uniformly heated.

The microwave oven with the abovementioned function has an advantage ofsafely and quickly cooking the food. Although there is theabove-mentioned advantage, there is a disadvantage that it is notpossible to cook various kinds of food. For example, coffee modernpeople enjoys is not brewed through the microwave oven, and a separatecoffee maker is used for brewing coffee.

In the meantime, recently, living space becomes smaller and consumerstend to prefer to practical products. Accordingly, various necessitiesare becoming smaller together with the electric appliance, and productsperforming not only a traditional function but also various functionsare requested by consumers. However, the customers are not satisfiedwith such conventional microwave oven.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker that substantially obviates one or more problemsdue to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven havinga coffee maker having not only a function of cooking foods by usingmicrowaves but also a function of brewing coffee.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker with a structure wherein a filter basket assemblyand a water reservoir are easily cleaned.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, amicrowave oven having a coffee maker includes a first housing having acooking chamber which is opened or closed by a door and a componentchamber with electric components provided therein for irradiatingmicrowave into the cooking chamber, a second housing provided in thefirst housing and having an open side, a water reservoir provided in thesecond housing, a filter basket assembly provided to be withdrawn fromor inserted into inside of the second housing and being separated fromthe water reservoir, a water supplying tube supplying water in the waterreservoir to the filter basket assembly, a heater for heating waterflowing through the water supplying tube and a container provided to bewithdrawn from or inserted into the second housing for receiving coffeedripped from the filter basket assembly.

In another aspect of the present invention, a microwave oven having acoffee maker includes a first housing including a cooking chamber and acomponent chamber, the cooking chamber opened or closed by a door, thecomponent chamber including electric components provide therein forirradiating microwave into the cooking chamber, a second housingprovided in the first housing and having an opened front, a waterreservoir provided in the second housing, a filter basket assemblyhinge-coupled to a front of the second housing and provided in front ofthe water reservoir, a water supplying tube for supplying water in thewater reservoir to the filter basket assembly, a heater for heatingwater flowing through the water supplying tube, and a container providedto be withdrawn from or inserted into the second housing for receivingcoffee dripped from the filter basket assembly.

In another aspect of the present invention, a microwave oven having acoffee maker includes a first housing including a cooking chamber and acomponent chamber, the cooking chamber opened or closed by a door andthe component chamber including electric components provided therein forirradiating microwave into the cooking chamber, a second housingprovided in the first housing and having an opened front, a waterreservoir provided in the second housing, a filter basket assemblyhinge-coupled to a side of the second housing and provided at a sameheight as that of the water reservoir, a water supplying tube forsupplying water in the water reservoir to the filter basket assembly, aheater for heating water flowing in the water supplying tube, and acontainer provided to be withdrawn from or inserted into the secondhousing for receiving coffee dripped from the filter basket assembly.

It is preferable that the second housing is provided in front of thecomponent chamber, and is provided next to the cooking chamber.

And, the water reservoir includes a receiving portion recessed on anouter surface thereof for receiving a part of the filter basketassembly. In this case, the receiving portion can be provided at eithera front of the water reservoir or at a corner of the front of the waterreservoir.

It is also preferable that the water reservoir is enabled to bewithdrawn from the second housing and the water reservoir comprises ahandle projected on an outer surface of the water reservoir for easygrip. In the present invention, for lowering a height of the coffeemaker provided in the microwave oven, the water reservoir and the filterbasket assembly are provided at a same height.

Meanwhile, the second housing comprises a bracket projected from aninner wall of the second housing for supporting the water reservoir, andthe bracket is elongated and is formed on an inner wall of the secondhousing for withdrawing the water reservoir from the second housing.

It is preferable that the filter basket assembly is rotatably attachedto the second housing such that the water reservoir is easily withdrawn.The filter basket assembly includes a cover hinge-coupled to the secondhousing, and a filter basket separably coupled to the cover. In thiscase, the cover is hinge-coupled to a front or a side of the secondhousing. The filter basket assembly further includes a filter in a formof net inserted into the filter basket.

When the cover is coupled to the front of the second housing, the frontof the cover has a surface continuous with a front of the door. In thiscase, it is preferable that the cover is attached to the second housingsuch that the water reservoir is easily withdrawn when the cover isseparated from the filter basket.

Contrary to this, when the cover is coupled to the side of the secondhousing, the front of the cover has a surface continuous with a front ofthe door and a side of the cover has a surface continuous with the sideof the second housing. In this case, the cover is rotatably attached tothe second housing such that the water reservoir is easily withdrawn ina state that the cover is coupled to the filter basket.

Meanwhile, an extension member is provided at any one of the cover andthe filter basket, and a supporter being provided at the other one ofthe cover and the filter basket for supporting the extension member. Thecontainer is able to be withdrawn from the second housing separate fromthe filter basket assembly.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in, and constitutea part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the inventionand together with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view showing a conventionalmicrowave oven.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view showing a microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cutaway view showing a coffee maker without asecond housing in a microwave oven of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plane cross-sectional view showing a coffee makerin the microwave oven of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 a to 5 c illustrates plane cross-sectional views showing aprocess of withdrawing a water reservoir from a coffee maker.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view showing a microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker in accordance with a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cutaway view showing a coffee maker without havinga second housing in a microwave oven of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plane cross-sectional view showing a coffee makerin a microwave oven of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 a through FIG. 9 c illustrate plane cross-sectional views showinga process of withdrawing a water reservoir from a coffee maker.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view showing a microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective viewshowing a microwave oven having a coffee maker in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in thedrawings, the microwave oven in accordance with the present inventionincludes a first housing 100, a second housing 200, a water reservoir300, a filter basket assembly 400, a water-supplying tube 500, a heater600, and a container 700.

In this case, in the housing 100, provided are a cooking chamber 110with an opened front and a component chamber 120 with electriccomponents provided therein. In front of the cooking chamber 110, a door130 is hinge-coupled for opening and closing the cooking chamber 110. Ona bottom surface of the cooking chamber 110, a tray 140 is rotatablyprovided.

The component chamber 120 is provided adjacent to the cooking chamber110, for example, on a side of the cooking chamber 110. At the componentchamber 120, a plurality of electric components such as a magnetron 121,a transformer 122, and a fan 123 is provided for irradiating microwavesinto the cooking chamber 110.

In this case, the transformer 122 receives the electric power andconverts it into high voltage power, and the magnetron 121 receives thehigh voltage power from the transformer 122 and generates the microwaveswhich are irradiated into the cooking chamber 110. The fan 123 blowsoutside air to the components, specially emitting large amount of heatwhen they work, such as the magnetron 121 and the transformer 122, forcooling down the components. Furthermore, the fan 123 also forms aircirculation currents in the cooking chamber 110.

The second housing 200 includes a space for accommodating the waterreservoir 300, the filter basket assembly 400, and the container 700.And a side of the second housing 200, for example a front is opened. Thesecond housing 200 is provided in the first housing forming the outercase of the microwave oven.

In this case, it is preferable that the second housing 200 includes afront panel 211 provided on the opened front so as to improve theappearance of the microwave oven. The front panel 211 includes anopening 212 for communicating an outside of the front panel 211 withinside of the second housing 200. The front panel 211 includes aplurality of buttons for operating the coffee maker and the microwaveoven.

Meanwhile, it is preferable that the second housing 200 is provided inthe first housing 100 not to change sizes of the cooking chamber and thefirst housing 100 in the microwave oven in accordance with the presentinvention. Furthermore, for a user to easily use the coffee makerprovided in the microwave oven, it is preferable that the housing 200 isprovided next to the cooking chamber 110 and in front of the componentchamber 120.

For providing the second housing 200 in the first housing 100 and alsoin front of the component chamber 120, it is preferable that theelectric components such as the magnetron 121, the transformer 122 andthe fan 123 are densely provided at a rear part of the component chamber120. Together with the abovementioned, because a plurality of electriccomponents are provided in the component chamber 120, it is preferablethat a size of the fan 123 cooling the component chamber 120 isenlarged, or the performance of the component chamber 120 is improved byimproving a structure of a ventilation passage of the component chamber120.

The water reservoir 300 is provided in the second housing 200. The waterreservoir 300 has a space for holding water, and an opening 310 forsupplying water at a side thereof, for example at a top portion thereof.The water reservoir 300 is provided at a top portion in the secondhousing 200, and the second housing 200 has a bracket 210 on an innerwall thereof for supporting the water reservoir 300.

In this case, it is preferable that the water reservoir 300 is providedto be withdrawn from the second housing 200 to outside of the secondhousing 200 for the user to easily supply water and also clean the waterreservoir 300. For this, it is preferable that the bracket 210 iselongated and is provided on an inner wall of the second housing 200 asillustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. If the bracket 210 is provided in saidway, the water reservoir 300 is withdrawn for supplying water andinserted into inside of the second housing 200 for supporting thebracket 210. Therefore, the structure is very simple and practical.

A handle 350 is provided on an outer surface of the water reservoir 300as illustrated in FIG. 6 for easy grip such that the user can easilywithdraw the water reservoir 300. Although the handle at the waterreservoir 300 is not illustrated in FIG. 2, the handle is provided on afront side of the water reservoir 300. Meanwhile, although the handle350 can be provided not to expose outside, the handle 250 can beprovided to expose outside as illustrated in FIG. 9.

The filter basket assembly 400 is provided as a separate body from thewater reservoir 300. The filter basket assembly 400 is provided to bewithdrawn from or inserted into inside of the second housing 200, forthis, it is preferable that the filter basket assembly 400 ishinge-coupled with the second housing 200.

The filter basket assembly 400 can be provided under the water reservoir300. However, in this case, height of the coffee maker and the microwaveneeds to be increased. Accordingly, it is preferable that the filterbasket assembly 400 is provided in front of the water reservoir 300 at asame height as the water reservoir 300 such that there is no need toincrease the height of the microwave.

Meanwhile, the filter basket assembly 400 includes a cover 410 beinghinge-coupled with the second housing 200, and a filter basket 420separably coupled to the cover 410.

The cover 410 opens an opened front of the second housing 200, in moredetail, an opening 212 of the front panel of the second housing 200. Inthis case, although the cover 410 can be provided for wholly opening theopening 212, it is preferable that the cover 410 is provided for openingonly the top portion of the opening 212 such that the user can withdrawor insert the container 700 only separate from the filter basketassembly 400.

Meanwhile, the cover 410 is hinge-coupled with the front of the secondhousing 200 in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention as illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, hereinafter, thestructure of the cover 410 will be described in each embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cover 410 of the first embodiment ishinge-couple with the front of the front panel 211 constructing thefront portion of the second housing 200 so as to open the opening 212.It is preferable that the front of the cover 140 has a surface that iscontinuous with the front of the door 130 in order to improve anappearance of the microwave oven.

In case provided in front of the water reservoir 300, it is preferablethat the filter basket assembly 400 is rotatably attached to the secondhousing such that the water reservoir 300 is easily withdrawn from orinserted into inside of the second housing 200. In other words, thewater reservoir 300 needs to be easily withdrawn or inserted when thefilter basket assembly 400 is completely rotated.

In the case of the first embodiment, the cover 410 is rotated to bealmost perpendicular to the front of the second housing 200 asillustrated in FIG. 5 c. In this case, the basket 420 is separated fromthe cover 410 for withdrawing or inserting the water reservoir 300.However, the cover 410 can be rotated by more degrees than the degreeillustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the cover 410 of the second embodiment is providedat a side of the second housing 200. In this case, although the cover410 may be provided on a front of the front panel 211 constructing thefront portion of the second housing 200, FIG. 6 illustrates an exampleof the cover being hinge-coupled with a fixed portion in the firsthousing 100 in the second housing 200. In the case of FIG. 6, on theside of the front panel 211, provided is a cut away portion into whichthe cover is inserted.

In the second embodiment, the cover 410 includes a plane surface bent ina form of “L”. In this case, it is preferable that the side of the ofthe cover 140 has a surface that is continuous with the side of thefirst housing 100 and the front of the cover 140 has a surface that iscontinuous with the front of the door 130 in order to improve theappearance of the microwave oven.

In case the cover 410 is provided at the side of the second housing 200,it is easy to withdraw or insert the water reservoir provided at thesame height. In other words, even in a case that the basket 420 iscoupled with the cover 410 as illustrated in FIG. 9 c, the waterreservoir 300 is easily withdrawn without being caught into the basket420.

It is preferable that a groove or a handle is provided to the cover 410installed as abovementioned. Then the user can rotate the cover 410 byusing the groove or the handle. However, not limited to this, the covercan be provided in a structure that the cover is opened by theelasticity when the cover is pressed backward the front panel 211.

Meanwhile, the basket 420 is separably coupled to the cover 410. Forthis, it is preferable that an extension member 421 is provided at anyone of the cover 410 and the filter basket 420, and a supporter 411being supported by the extension member 421 is provided at the other oneof the cover 410 and the filter basket 420.

As a reference, FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 illustrate an example showing that ahook is provided as the extension member 421, and a loop having the hookinserted thereto is provided as a supporter 411.

The basket 420 has a same structure as that employed to a conventionalcoffee maker. The basket 420 is formed in a funnel having a diameter oftop portion thereof is larger than that of the lower portion thereof. Ata lower part of the basket 420, a hole (not shown) is formed fordropping coffee liquid. A valve is provided at the bracket 210 foropening and closing the hole.

In the mean time, when the cover 410 is closed, the basket 420 isprovided between the cover 410 and the water reservoir 300 asillustrated in FIG. 5a and FIG. 9 a. Accordingly, it is preferable thata part of the filter basket assembly 400, particularly a receivingportion 320 for receiving the basket 420 on an outer surface of thewater reservoir 300.

In the case of the first embodiment, the receiving portion 320 recessedon the front of the water reservoir 300 is provided for receiving thebasket 420 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In the second embodiment, thereceiving portion 320 recessed at a front corner of the water reservoir300 is provided as shown in FIG. 6.

When the receiving portion is provided at the water reservoir 300, sizeof the water reservoir 300 is not reduced, and depth of the secondhousing 200 is reduced.

Meanwhile, a filter 430 is provided in the basket 420 as illustrated inFIG. 2 and FIG. 6. The filter 439 is formed in a net form, and coffeepowder is put thereto. If the filter 430 in the form of a net asabovementioned, there is no need to provide a paper filter separately,and also is no need to provide a separate valve being provided to thehole for dripping the coffee when the coffee is brewed in the filterbasket 420.

In the mean time, the water supplying tube 500 is for providing thewater in the water reservoir 300 to the filter basket assembly 400. Asillustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, a first end of the water supplyingtube 500 is coupled with the water reservoir 300 and a second end of thewater supplying tube 500 is positioned at the top portion of the basket420. Although described later, a part of the water supplying tube 500 isprovided to be in contact with the heater 600 as illustrated in FIG. 4and FIG. 8. In this case, the second end of the water supplying tube500, through which water is flowed out, is provided at a higher placethan the first end of the water supplying tube 500 through which wateris flowed in.

When the water supplying tube 500 is provided as abovementioned, waterstored in the water reservoir 300 is flowed in through the first end ofthe water supplying tube 500, is heated while passing through theportion being in contact with the heater 600, and then flowed outthrough the second end into the basket 420 by being risen by steampressure. It is preferable that the portion being in contact with theheater 600 is made of a well-conducting material such that a largeramount of heat from the heater 600 is transmitted to the water flowinginto the inside thereof.

Meanwhile, it is preferable that a check valve 510 is provided at amiddle of the water supplying tube 500 for preventing water in the watersupplying tube 500 from being flown backward toward the water reservoir300. Although the check valve 510 is formed of various structures, onesimple structure of those structures is described as follows.

A first end of the water supplying tube 500 being in contact with thewater reservoir 300 has a smaller inside diameter and the portionadjacent to the heater 600 has a larger inside diameter than that of theportion being in contact with the water reservoir 300. A ball (notshown) is provided on an inner surface of the water supplying tube 500having the larger inside diameter among the portions having differentinside diameters. In this case, the ball is freely movable in the watersupplying tube at the portion having the larger inside diameter.However, the ball is unmovable into the water supplying tube 500 at theportion having the smaller inside diameter and in a size enough forclosing a water passage. If the check valve is constructed in theabovementioned way, the water is prevented from being flown backward bya following principle.

Water flown from the water reservoir 300 into the inside of the watersupplying tube 500 moves to the portion being in contact with the heater600 through the check valve 510. In this case, the portion having thesmaller inside diameter is not closed because the ball is provided atthe lower part by air pressure and water pressure. The portion of thewater supplying tube 500 adjacent to the heater 600 is heated as theheater 600 is heated.

The ball is risen by the high pressure so as to prevent the portionhaving the small inside diameter of the water supplying tube 500 becausethe pressure inside of the water supplying tube 500 is increased whenthe water in the water supplying tube 500 is heated. When an entrance ofthe portion having the small inside diameter is closed, water isprevented from being flown backward because the water heated by theheater 600 is not risen toward the water reservoir 300. When the wateris heated more in a case that the water is prevented from being flownbackward, the water is risen toward the second end completely opened,and then supplied to the basket 420.

When a lot of amount of water is risen by the pressure and flown outtoward the second end, the water stored in the water reservoir 300 issupplied to the lower part thereof because the pressure inside of thewater supplying tube 500 is lowered, and the ball is descended. Byrepeating abovementioned process, the water is heated and the heatedwater is supplied to the basket 420 in a state that the water isprevented from being flown backward.

As aforementioned, the present invention includes a check valve 510 in asimple structure, the vale using water pressure, gravity, and steampressure. However, the check valve 510 is not limited in the structure.In other words, it is possible to provide a separate valve beingoperated by outside power for temporarily closing the passage of thewater supplying tube 500 while the ware is boiling.

Meanwhile, the heater 600 is for heating the water flowing in the watersupplying tube 500 and is provided at a lower part of the second housing200 as illustrate in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. It ispreferable that the heater 600 is provided to be in contact with thewater supplying tube 500.

The heater 600 not only performs a role of heating the water in thewater supplying tube 500 but also heating coffee stored in the container700. For this, it is preferable that a heating plate 550 is provided ontop of the heater 600 as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8.

The heating plate 550 supports the container 700 and transmits the heatof the heater 600 to the container 700. Accordingly, it is preferablethat the heating plate 550 is made of a high conductive material.However, it is preferable that other portion of the second housing 200includes an insulating material for preventing the heat transmitted toother places except the heating plate 550.

Meanwhile, the container 700 is withdrawn from or inserted into thesecond housing 200 through the opening 212 of the front panel 211, andstores coffee dropped from the filter basket assembly 400, particularlyfrom the basket 420. In the present invention, a carafe is provided asthe container 700. However, the container 700 is not limited to this,but can be replaced by something such as a cup at need.

In a case that the container 700 includes the carafe, a handle 710 isprovided thereto for the user to easily grasp the container 700. On theopened top of the carafe, a lid 720 is provided, and a hole 730 isprovided at the lid 720 for taking coffee dropped from the basket 420.

In the first embodiment, the hole 730 is provided in the middle of thelid 720 as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, in the second embodiment, thehole 730 is provided to be eccentric from the center as illustrated inFIG. 7 and FIG. 8 because the position of the basket 420 is eccentric inthe second embodiment.

The microwave oven having the coffee maker in accordance with thepresent invention is operated as follows. In describing the operation, abasic function and related contents of the microwave oven, the basicfunction for heating foods in the cooking chamber by using microwave,are described in the description of the related art thereby will beomitted. Accordingly, an operation and the function of the coffee makerbeing additionally provided to the microwave oven of the presentinvention will be described hereinafter.

First, in the state illustrated in FIG. 5 a and FIG. 9 a, when thefilter basket assembly 400 is rotated as illustrated in FIG. 9 b, andthen a reasonable amount of coffee is supplied into the basket 420. Ifneeded, the water reservoir 300 is withdrawn to outside and insertedback into the second housing 200 after supplying water as illustrated inFIG. 5 c and FIG. 9 c. The cover 410 of the filter basket assembly 400is then closed and for operating the coffee maker by using a keyprovided at the front panel 211.

When the coffee maker is operated, the heater 600 heats the watersupplying tube 500 and the heating plate 550 while generating heat. Atthe same time, the water is supplied to the inside of the watersupplying tube 500 from the water reservoir 300 and the water suppliedto the water supplying tube 500 is heated by the heater 600.

When a predetermined time is passed, the water is boiled and thepressure in the water supplying tube 500 is increased, the boiling wateris risen by the high stream pressure and then flown out through thesecond end of the water supplying tube 500 because the ball closes thepassage of the water supplying tube 500.

The coffee powder is then dissolved in the basket 420 and the coffee inliquid state is dropped from the basket and stored in the container 700.The coffee stored in the container 700 is heated by the heating plate550, and thus the user can enjoy warm coffee at any time.

Meanwhile, after the coffee is made, the basket needs to be cleaned. Atthis time, the cover 410 is rotated and the cover is separated from thecover 410, and then each of the filter 430 and the basket 420 iscleaned. If needed, the water reservoir 300 is withdrawn outside andthen cleaned.

When the cleaning of the basket 420 and the water reservoir 300 isfinished, the water reservoir 300 is inserted back into the secondhousing 200, the extension member 421 of the basket 420 is inserted andfixed into the supporter 411, and the cover 410 is closed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As abovementioned, it is very convenient in that the present inventionhas not only the basic function of the microwave oven but also thefunction of brewing coffee the modern people enjoy.

If other electric components are densely provided in the componentchamber, there is no need to reduce the space of the cooking chamber orenlarge the total space of the microwave oven because the coffee makeris provided in the component chamber having space. Therefore, thepresent invention increases the space usability of kitchen.

The coffee maker is used hygienically because the filter basket assemblyand the water reservoir are separable from the coffee maker.

1. A microwave oven having a coffee maker, comprising: a first housingincluding a cooking chamber which is opened or closed by a door, and acomponent chamber with electric components provided therein forirradiating microwaves into the cooking chamber; a second housingprovided in the first housing and having an open side; a water reservoirprovided in the second housing; a filter basket assembly provided to bewithdrawn from or inserted into inside of the second housing, the filterbasket assembly being separated from the water reservoir; a watersupplying tube supplying water in the water reservoir to the filterbasket assembly; a heater for heating water flowing through the watersupplying tube; and a container provided to be withdrawn from orinserted into the second housing for receiving coffee dripped from thefilter basket assembly.
 2. The microwave oven having a coffee maker ofclaim 1, wherein the second housing is provided in front of thecomponent chamber.
 3. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim1, wherein the second housing is provided next to the cooking chamber.4. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 1, wherein thewater reservoir includes a receiving portion recessed on an outersurface of the water reservoir for receiving a part of the filter basketassembly.
 5. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 1,wherein the water reservoir and the filter basket assembly are providedat a same height.
 6. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim1, wherein the water reservoir is provided to be withdrawn from thesecond housing.
 7. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 6,wherein the water reservoir includes a handle projected on an outersurface thereof for easy grip.
 8. The microwave oven having a coffeemaker of claim 1, wherein the second housing includes a bracketprojected from an inner wall thereof for supporting the water reservoir.9. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 8, wherein thebracket is elongated and is formed on an inner wall of the secondhousing for withdrawing the water reservoir from the second housing. 10.The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 1, wherein the filterbasket assembly is hinge-coupled with the second housing.
 11. Themicrowave oven having a coffee maker of claim 10, wherein the filterbasket assembly is rotatably attached to the second housing such thatthe water reservoir is easily withdrawn.
 12. The microwave oven having acoffee maker of claim 1, wherein the filter basket assembly comprises: acover hinge-coupled to a front of the second housing; and a filterbasket separably coupled to the cover.
 13. The microwave oven having acoffee maker of claim 12, wherein the filter basket assembly furthercomprises: an extension member provided at any one of the cover and thebasket; and a supporter provided at the other one of the cover and thebasket for supporting the extension member.
 14. The microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker of claim 12, wherein the filter basket assemblyfurther comprises a filter in a form of net inserted into the filterbasket.
 15. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 1, whereinthe filter basket assembly comprises: a cover hinge-coupled to a side ofthe second housing; and a filter basket separably coupled to the cover.16. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 15, wherein thefilter basket assembly further comprises: an extension member providedat any one of the cover and the basket; and a supporter provided at theother one of the cover and the basket for supporting the extensionmember.
 17. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 15,wherein the filter basket assembly further comprises a filter in a formof net inserted into the filter basket.
 18. The microwave oven having acoffee maker of claim 1, wherein the container is withdrawn separatefrom the filter basket assembly.
 19. A microwave oven having a coffeemaker, comprising: a first housing including a cooking chamber which isopened or closed by a door, and a component chamber with electriccomponents provided therein for irradiating microwaves into the cookingchamber; a second housing provided in the first housing and having anopened front; a water reservoir provided in the second housing; a filterbasket assembly hinge-coupled to the front of the second housing andprovided in front of the water reservoir; a water supplying tube forsupplying water in the water reservoir to the filter basket assembly; aheater for heating water flowing through the water supplying tube; and acontainer provided to be withdrawn from or inserted into the secondhousing for receiving coffee dripped from the filter basket assembly.20. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 19, wherein thesecond housing is provided in front of the component chamber.
 21. Themicrowave oven having a coffee maker of claim 19, wherein the waterreservoir includes a receiving portion recessed on an outer surface ofthe water reservoir for receiving a part of the filter basket assembly.22. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 19, wherein thewater reservoir is provided to be withdrawn from the second housing. 23.The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 19, wherein thebracket is elongated and is formed on an inner wall of the secondhousing for withdrawing the water reservoir from the second housing. 24.The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 19, wherein the filterbasket assembly comprises: a cover hinge-coupled to the front of thesecond housing; and a filter basket separably coupled to the cover. 25.The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 24, wherein the frontof the cover has a surface continuous with a front of the door.
 26. Themicrowave oven having a coffee maker of claim 24, wherein the cover isrotatably attached to the second housing such that the water reservoiris easily withdrawn when the filter basket is separated from the cover.27. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 24, whereinwherein the filter basket assembly further comprises: an extensionmember provided at any one of the cover and the basket; and a supporterprovided at the other one of the cover and the basket for supporting theextension member.
 28. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim24, wherein the filter basket assembly further comprises a filter in aform of net inserted into the filter basket.
 29. A microwave oven havinga coffee maker, comprising: a first housing including a cooking chamberwhich is opened or closed by a door, and a component chamber withelectric components provided therein for irradiating microwave into thecooking chamber; a second housing provided in the first housing andhaving an opened front; a water reservoir provided in the secondhousing; a filter basket assembly hinge-coupled to a side of the secondhousing and provided at a same height as that of the water reservoir; awater supplying tube for supplying water in the water reservoir to thefilter basket assembly; a heater for heating water flowing through thewater supplying tube; and a container provided to be withdrawn from orinserted into the second housing for receiving coffee dripped from thefilter basket assembly.
 30. The microwave oven having a coffee maker ofclaim 29, wherein the second housing is provided in front of thecomponent chamber.
 31. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim29, wherein the water reservoir includes a receiving portion recessed onan outer surface of the resevoir for receiving a part of the filterbasket assembly.
 32. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim29, wherein the water reservoir is provided to be withdrawn from thesecond housing.
 33. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim32, wherein the water reservoir comprises a handle projected on an outersurface of the water reservoir for easy grip.
 34. The microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker of claim 29, wherein the second housing comprisesa bracket formed on on inner wall of the second housing for withdrawingthe water reservoir from the second housing.
 35. The microwave ovenhaving a coffee maker of claim 29, wherein the filter basket assembly isrotatably attached to the second housing such that the water reservoiris easily withdrawn.
 36. The microwave oven having a coffee maker ofclaim 29, wherein the filter basket assembly comprises: a coverhinge-coupled to a side of the second housing; and a filter basketseparably coupled to the cover.
 37. The microwave oven having a coffeemaker of claim 36, wherein a side of the cover has a surface that iscontinuous with a side of the first housing, and a front of the coverhas a surface that is continuous with a front of the door.
 38. Themicrowave oven having a coffee maker of claim 36, wherein the cover isrotatably attached to the second housing such that the water reservoiris easily withdrawn in a state that the basket is coupled to the cover.39. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim 36, whereinwherein the filter basket assembly further comprises: an extensionmember provided at any one of the cover and the basket; and a supporterprovided at the other one of the cover and the basket for supporting theextension member.
 40. The microwave oven having a coffee maker of claim36, wherein the filter basket assembly further comprises a filter in aform of net inserted into the filter basket.